11 What should you do if you sense that you have offended a fellow worshiper? Jesus said: “If, then, you are bringing your gift to the altar and you there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar, and go away; first make your peace with your brother, and then, when you have come back, offer up your gift.” (Matthew 5:23, 24) You can apply that counsel by taking the initiative to go to your brother. With what objective? To “make your peace” with him.* To that end, you may need to acknowledge, not deny, his hurt feelings. If you approach him with the goal of restoring peace and maintain that attitude, likely any misunderstanding can be cleared up, appropriate apologies made, and forgiveness extended. When you go out of your way to make peace, you show that you are guided by godly wisdom.

The Greek expression rendered “make your peace” comes from a verb that means “‘to effect an alteration, to exchange,’ and hence, ‘to reconcile.’” So your goal is to effect a change, to remove, if possible, ill will from the offended one’s heart.​—Romans 12:18.